Small vehicle energized on handheld launcher

ABSTRACT

A toy vehicle assembly that includes a toy vehicle coupled to a hand-held launcher. The launcher includes a manually rotated platform that is rotated by a user. Rotation of the platform causes a mechanism within the toy vehicle to store energy. The user can place the toy vehicle adjacent to a surface and release the vehicle from the launcher. The stored energy then propels the vehicle.

REFERENCE TO CROSS-RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Application No. 60/849,987 filed onOct. 6, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hand-held toy vehicle launcher.

2. Prior Art

There have been developed toy vehicles that can move across a surface.For example, there have been developed and sold electric powered toycars. Electric powered toys require batteries, which must be constantlyreplaced by the user.

There have also been developed toy vehicles that store mechanical energythat powers the toy. These are commonly referred to as wind-up toys. Forexample, there was marketed a toy vehicle by Darda, that stored energyby moving the wheels of the vehicle back and forth across a surface.Movement of the wheels stored energy in a wind-up motor inside the toy.Hasbro Toys marketed a line of preschool toy vehicles under the nameSPEEDSTARS that were energized at a wind-up station. The wind-up stationis placed on a surface such as a floor. Mattel Toys marketed a toyvehicle under the name SIZZLERS that contained a capacitor chargedelectric motor. Mattel Toys also marketed a toy vehicle under the nameHYPERWHEElS. The HYPERWHEELS product included a toy vehicle that wascoupled to a launcher. The launcher included a hand crank that could berotated by the user to energize the toy vehicle. The launcher had arelease pedal that could be depressed to launch the toy vehicle.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A toy vehicle assembly that includes a toy vehicle coupled to ahand-held launcher. The launcher includes a manually rotated platform.The toy vehicle includes a mechanism that stores energy when theplatform is rotated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a toy vehicle assembly;

FIG. 2 is an illustration showing a toy vehicle being spun in ahorizontal position;

FIG. 3 is an illustration showing the toy vehicle being flipped up intoa vertical position;

FIG. 4 is an illustration showing the toy vehicle placed on a surface;

FIG. 5 is an illustration showing a user depressing a release button,and a safety button being depressed on the surface;

FIG. 6 is an illustration showing the toy vehicle being launched from alauncher;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the toy vehicle assembly;

FIG. 8 is an illustration showing an alternate embodiment of the toyvehicle assembly with a motorcycle shaped toy vehicle;

FIG. 9 is an illustration showing the toy vehicle being launched from alauncher;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of the launcher with a light source thatemits a beam of light;

FIG. 11 is an illustration showing the beam of light being directed atan object;

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the toy vehicle assemblyshown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is an illustration of an alternate embodiment of the toy vehicleassembly with a toy helicopter;

FIG. 14 is an illustration showing the toy helicopter being launchedfrom a launcher;

FIG. 15 is an exploded view of the toy vehicle assembly shown in FIG.13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed is a toy vehicle assembly that includes a toy vehicle coupledto a hand-held launcher. The launcher includes a manually rotatedplatform that is rotated by a user. Rotation of the platform causes amechanism within the toy vehicle to store energy. The user can place thetoy vehicle adjacent to a surface and release the vehicle from thelauncher. The stored energy then propels the vehicle.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers, FIG. 1shows an embodiment of a toy vehicle assembly 10. The assembly 10includes a hand-held launcher 12 and a toy vehicle 14. The launcher 12includes a platform 16 pivotally connected to a handle 18. The platform16 includes an output shaft 20 that is coupled to the toy vehicle 14.The platform 16 may also have a guide tab 22 and a release mechanism 24.The release mechanism 24 can secure and release the toy vehicle 14 fromthe launcher 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, a user can spin the platform 16 and toy vehicle 14with a twisting motion of their wrist. Rotation of the platform 16causes a corresponding rotation of the output shaft 20 shown in FIG. 1.The energy created by the rotating output shaft is transferred to andstored by the toy vehicle 14. The launcher 12 may have a toy tachomotor26 that provides a read-out representing a rotational speed of theplatform 16, or a value that corresponds to the stored energy within thevehicle. The tachometer 26 may be electronic or mechanical in nature.The launcher 12 may include a speaker 28 that generates a sound. Thesound may be correspond to a motor warming up or other similar sounds.The sound may be produced by an electronic chip, or a mechanical devicesuch as needle scratching a plastic speaker.

As shown in FIG. 3 the platform 16 may include a pivot assembly 30 thatallows the user to move the toy vehicle 14 from a horizontal position toa vertical position. As shown in FIG. 4, once the toy vehicle 14 isfully energized it can be placed on a surface in a horizontal position.As shown in FIG. 5, the user may depress a release button 32 to releasethe toy vehicle 14 from the launcher 12. The platform 16 may include asafety button 34 that must be depressed before the toy vehicle 14 isfully released from the launcher 12. The safety button 34 insures thatthe vehicle 14 is on a surface and is not released while spinning orotherwise in the air. Once released, the stored energy propels the toyvehicle 14 as shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the toy vehicle assembly 10. The toyvehicle 14 may include a plastic housing constructed from upper 40 andlower 42 parts. The vehicle 14 may further have front wheels 44, coupledtogether by an axle 46, and a pair of rear wheels 48. The rear wheels 48may be connected to the axle of a “wind-up” motor 50. The wind-up motor50 may include a spring (not shown) that can store energy. The wind-upmotor 50 can be coupled to a gear assembly 52.

The launcher 12 may include a pair of handle body parts, 54 and 56.Mounted to the handle body parts are a pair of platform body parts 58and 60. The platform parts are attached to a launcher part 62. Thelauncher part 62 is pivotally connected to a pivot part 64 by a pivotpin 66 that allows part 62 to pivot about part 64. The pivot 64 issecured to parts 58 and 60 by pin 66.

The launcher includes a spring biased release tab assembly 68 that iscoupled to a release button 70 by a connector plate 72 and release pin74.

The launcher includes a gear pedestal 76 that is mounted to the handleparts 54 and 56. The gear pedestal 76 is coupled to an output shaft 78by a transfer gear 80 and gear assembly 82. The launcher gear isconnected to parts 58 and 60 by axle 66. The output shaft 78 is coupledto the gear assembly 52 when the toy vehicle 14 is loaded onto thelauncher 12.

Rotation of the platform (parts 58, 60, 62 and 64) causes the transfergear 80 to rotate about the gear pedestal 76. Rotation of the transfergear 80 is transferred into rotation of the output shaft 78 through gearassembly 82. Rotation of the output shaft 78 rotates gear assembly 52and causes the wind-up motor 50 to store energy. When the toy vehicle isreleased the stored energy within the wind-up motor 50 rotates the rearwheels 48 and propels the vehicle.

FIG. 8 shows an alternate embodiment of a toy vehicle assembly 100. Theassembly 100 includes a hand held launcher 102 and a toy vehicle 104shaped as a toy motorcycle. The launcher 102 includes a rotatingplatform 106 that can spin and transfer energy to the toy vehicle 104.

As shown in FIG. 9 a user can depress a release button 108 to releasethe vehicle 104. The platform 106 may have a pair of pins 110 thatcapture and release the vehicle 104. As shown in FIG. 10 the launcher102 may include a light source 112 that emits a beam of light 114. Byway of example, the light source 110 may be a laser diode. The launcher102 may include a safety switch 116 that inhibits the laser diode unlessthe launcher is on a surface. This may minimize a user frominadvertently directing a laser beam into someone's eye.

As shown in FIG. 11 the light beam may be directed at a target 118 tosimulate a laser guiding of the toy vehicle 104.

FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of the toy vehicle assembly 100. Theassembly 100 includes a platform housing assembly 120 mounted to pair oflauncher handle parts 121 and 122. The handle parts support a gear shiftbutton 124 that is coupled to a two speed transmission gear assembly 126by a spring biased shaft assembly 128. The button 124 can be manipulatedby the user to shift the gear ratio of the gear assembly 126. The usercan thus spin the toy vehicle at one gear, shift gears through thebutton 124, and continue to spin the toy vehicle in another gear. Thelauncher may also have a release button 130 coupled to a spring biasedrelease tab assembly 132.

The toy vehicle may include a front wheel 134 coupled to a main bodypart 136 by a fork assembly 138. The toy vehicle may also have aflywheel 140 attached to a rear wheel 142 and a gear 144. The gear 144is coupled to the gear assembly 126 when the toy vehicle is coupled tothe launcher. Rotation of the platform 120 causes a correspondingrotation of the gear assembly 126. The gear assembly rotates gear 144and flywheel 140. The vehicle flywheel 140 stores energy so that whenthe toy vehicle is released the flywheel 144 rotates the rear wheel 142and propels the vehicle. By way of example, the flywheel 140 may reach6000 revolutions per minute (“rpm”) before being launched.

FIG. 13 shows an alternate embodiment of a toy vehicle assembly 200. Theassembly 200 includes a launcher 202 and a toy vehicle 204 constructedas a toy helicopter. The launcher 202 includes a spinning platform 206that can transfer energy to the helicopter. As shown in FIG. 14 the toyvehicle 204 lifts from the launcher 202 when it is released.

FIG. 15 shows an embodiment of the assembly 200. The assembly 200includes a platform part assembly 202 that is mounted to a pair ofhandle parts 204 and 206. The toy vehicle includes a shaft 210 that isattached to a blade 212 mounted to a body part assembly 214. The vehicleincludes a flywheel 216 that is attached to a gear 218 and coupled tothe blade 212 by shaft 220. Gear 218 is coupled to a two speedtransmission gear assembly 222 by gear 224. The gear assembly 222 iscoupled to a button 226 by a spring biased shaft assembly 228. Thebutton 226 can be manipulated by the user to change the gear ratio ofthe gear assembly 222. The toy vehicle can be captured and released fromthe launcher through a release linkage 230.

Rotation of the platform 202 causes rotation of the gear assembly 222which is transferred into the flywheel 216. When the toy vehicle isreleased the energy in the flywheel rotates the blade 212 to lift thevehicle from the launcher. By way of example, the flywheel 216 may reach10,000 rpm before being launched.

While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in theaccompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments aremerely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, andthat this invention not be limited to the specific constructions andarrangements shown and described, since various other modifications mayoccur to those ordinarily skilled in the art.

1. A toy vehicle assembly, comprising: a hand-held launcher thatincludes a manually rotated platform; and, a toy vehicle that is coupledto said hand-held launcher, said toy vehicle includes an energy storagemechanism that stores energy when said platform is rotated.
 2. Theassembly of claim 1, wherein said hand-held launcher includes a releasemechanism that restrains and releases said toy vehicle.
 3. The assemblyof claim 2, wherein said release mechanism includes a safety switch thatis activated by contact with a surface.
 4. The assembly of claim 1,wherein said hand-held launcher includes a light source.
 5. The assemblyof claim 1, wherein said energy storage mechanism includes a toyflywheel.
 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said hand-held launcherincludes a pivot mechanism that allows said toy vehicle to be pivotedbetween a vertical position and a horizontal position.
 7. The assemblyof claim 1, wherein said hand-held launcher includes a sound generator.8. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said hand-held launcher includes asafety switch coupled to said light source.
 9. A toy vehicle assembly,comprising: a hand-held launcher that includes a manually rotatedplatform; and, a toy vehicle that is coupled to said hand-held launcher,said toy vehicle includes energy storage means for propelling said toyvehicle.
 10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein said hand-held launcherincludes a release mechanism that restrains and releases said toyvehicle.
 11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said release mechanismincludes a safety switch that is activated by contact with a surface.12. The assembly of claim 9, wherein said toy vehicle includes a lightsource.
 13. The assembly of claim 9, wherein said energy storage meansincludes a toy flywheel.
 14. The assembly of claim 9, wherein saidhand-held launcher includes a pivot mechanism that allows said toyvehicle to be pivoted between a vertical position and a horizontalposition.
 15. The assembly of claim 9, wherein said hand-held launcherincludes a sound generator.
 16. The assembly of claim 9, wherein saidhand-held launcher includes a light source.
 17. A method for launching atoy vehicle, comprising: manipulating a hand-held launcher to rotate atoy vehicle so that the toy vehicle stores energy; placing the toyvehicle adjacent to a surface; and, releasing the toy vehicle from thehand-held launcher.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprisinggenerating a light source from the hand-held launcher.
 19. The method ofclaim 17, further comprising emitting a sound from the hand-heldlauncher.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the toy vehicle is rotatedin a vertical position and released in a horizontal position.